To all of you I wish to thank you for helping me with all my questions . Its been a pleasure to talk with all of you but now after working a big 20 hours a week for the past two months I have decided to go back to being a machinist. I really gave this apprenticeship the best effort I could. To Doug,Trumpy,and everyone I give you my best and please be safe out there. This web site has been great. Best of luck to all of you.
Steve (aka ancient apprentice)

Sorry to hear it Steve, but you can't live on 20 hrs/week of apprentice wages. Machining is a good trade, so keep your spirits up.

Dave

Hey, Please still visit us

steve,

before going back to being a machinist, try another shop. why are you only working 20 hours/week? in our slowest of times our guys still get 40. it's not their fault all the time that we are slow.

hate to see someone who actually wants to be in this industry give up, just leaves more guys who are here by default.

don't quit yet.

Yeah, ditto trying another shop....

Mahlere,
All he does is fire restoration work. He relies on this soley. I have sent out resumes and I mean a lot of them. No reply what so ever. I thought that after 1.5 years commercial and 6 months residential,bucket truck work, HID lighting I thought someone would want me. Guess im just really discouraged.

"don't quit yet."

There is someone out there, that needs you!

Steve, many of our people are working overtime, there are contractors out there who will be able to give you a 40 + hr week, don't give up.

Roger

Wish you were in S Florida, you'd be able to start tomorrow.

Steve, don't give up until your apprenticeship is over and you have your license. I was a machinist as well (2 times actually, I hated electrical during my apprenticeship) I can never imagine working at a machine again. As a matter of fact my recurring nightmare is that I am still in a shop watching the clock. Try other shops, I think you should anyway to get a well rounded look at the trade. Unless you are working for a large contractor. If you have your E1, the sky is the limit. Unless if you have your own factory then I guess the sky is the limit there too. Good luck and don't give up.

Path of least resitance works well for electricity, but in the end, it really only gets it back to where it started. I can understand desperate times and desperate measures, but if you can find an ounce of hope and the will to push on, consider hanging in and looking for another shop. I'm sure you have already, but really it's a numbers game. It's a matter of how long you can afford to wait until your number comes up and you are put together with the right people. If you choose to stay in the game, try getting your face in front of potential employers in supply houses, trade functions, etc. Network and ask around who the best shops to work for. And truely the best advise I can give from personal experience is pray.

Geeez Louise,
Ya wanna move to DC? Union, Non-Union makes NO difference how many hours ya wanna work? Most contractors here simply inform everyone that OT WILL be expected just trying to stay even. Everything I have worked on for years has been Davis-Bacon jobs so pay is pay. Local 26 just got $6.00 per hour over 3 years.

Good luck, but don't give up.

Make sure that your hours in the trade are documented first. Do not leave until you have your paperwork, or you may never get credit for the time you worked in the trade.
Keep your irons in the fire, machining sucks, I did it for 15 years and the whole shipyard shut down. Machine shops are dependent on the economy and cheaper foreign products, electricity is forever. Electrical contractors make more money than machinists. Be your own boss!

Festus,
All my hours are documented. He filled out the form today. Guess I was 225 hours off. Grand total documented hours was 4,225. Last code class is May 30th. At that point 300 hours of code class is completed. This is really bugging me. My girl and code class instructor are saying stay. Both say im past the halfway point. Its just that 20 hours a week does not cut it plus I pay my own health insurance. Darnet, even the inspectors like me.Will keep you all posted and thanks lone gunman for the offer. Soimething is just telling me im a fool if I stop now.

The only problem with working in Florida is they pay you in sunshine...
... But there is plenty of work.

Hang in there.
Try going in person and talking to the various Electrical Companies. It's a whole different ballgame in person. On paper (resume) your just another apprentice looking to move on. In person you are a real live apprentice that can sell himself. There is something to be said about your age - Maturity !
If you can swing it - try and hang in there !

This is the hiring season.

Out my way May 1st is the beginning of a new fiscal year for electrical contractors.

Craigs List?

Side jobs outside the trade?

"Head on out to CALI forn EEEay!!!"

****Don't know where you are?****

Urban centers of California, (SF, SJ, LA, SD) always have work. I would venture to say any urban area of any state, or any area of robust economy does as well.

Construction jobs are only around if there is contruction, TI's in areas already built also just economic driven, "Service Work" is ALL the TIME! In a company diversified for all, in a large city, you are never out of work - ever. Pay is for the most part better in large cities as well. In the 'burb's, or worse in the boonies, you are too dependant on local economy.

So maybe it's time for a little commute?

Steve, I don't know if you have looked around, but in Mass. there are some very good companies to work for there. The one I used to work for was Griffin Electric. They are non union, but had a good apprenticeship program. Always had plenty of work when I was there. Good luck, Gary

Steve, I work for a large EC in MA and are currently hiring. Send me an e-mail if you are interested and I'll hook you up with the contact info. You will have no problem getting 40 hours and more a week. Also there is an excellent apprentice program run by the shop.

You have put in to much time to quit now.

Al

Capt al tells it like it is!.
Steve,
Finish what you have started, don't just run away from an oppurtuniity to be a tradesman.
I reckon you'd make a bloody good Electrician from what you have told me.
Same side of the coin, what apprentice hasn't got peeved during thier time and wanted to leave?.
What is the point of having worked for next to nothing thus far, if you are just going to throw it all away?.
Sit down and have a bloody good think about what you are doing before you just give up.
Also bear in mind the job offers above.
The Electrical industry is a great industry to work in and don't be discouraged by one person, there are plenty more fish in the sea.
Be there!!.

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 05-14-2006).]

Only 4000 hours?.
Get with it sweet-heart, it is expected that you do 8000 hours here + Night classes.
You've come this far mate, don't run away and get a worse job.
I'm not joking!.
Please Steve, don't give up on us, if you need help, here is where you can get it!.


[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 05-15-2006).]

i work for a very large company and we are hurting for people to work. if you are near the east coast and want to im me i can get you the name to talk to. we need help bad!!!

See??!!,
People here are just crying out for help.
It has to be better than (ugh) machining?.